Willie Nelson Honored for Environmental Efforts
Willie Nelson will receive the 2011 Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance Visionary Award on July 22. The country music icon is being honored jointly by the Amazon Watch and Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance environmental non-profit organizations during an awards ceremony to be held at the Bently Reserve in San Francisco, Calif.
The award, which is given to individuals or organizations who take a leadership role in protecting the environment through proactive actions and affirmative lifestyles, is in response to Willie's initiative in highlighting the importance of sustainable, community-based biodiesel as a measure of supporting local economies. Past recipients include pop singer Jack Johnson and the non-profit organization Reverb.
In addition to his environmental work, Willie is also known for his humanitarian efforts through the annual Farm Aid benefit concert. This year's event, which is set for August 13 at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Mo., will directly benefit farmers who suffered tremendous hardship after the string of tornadoes that ripped through several southern U.S. states.
"When major disasters like this strike, desperate farmers and farm organizations call Farm Aid," Willie writes on his official website. "With your help, Farm Aid can help by providing emergency funds for families to buy food and cover living expenses and by supporting emergency hotlines and organizations that provide legal, financial and emotional counseling to farm families in need."
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